Editing Western Wall (section)

====20th–21st centuries====
In the past{{dubious|This is not an acceptable definition. I presume it refers to C20. If (also) C19, place it there - if the source gives clear indication for it.|date=March 2020}} women could be found sitting at the entrance to the Wall every Sabbath holding fragrant herbs and spices in order to enable worshipers to make additional blessings. In the hot weather they would provide cool water. The women also used to cast lots for the privilege of sweeping and washing the alleyway at the foot of the Wall.<ref name= SLC/>

Throughout several centuries, the Wall is where Jews have gathered to express gratitude to God or to pray for divine mercy. On news of the [[Normandy landings]] on June 6, 1944 thousands of Jews went to the Wall to offer prayers for the "success of His Majesty's and Allied Forces in the liberation of all enemy-occupied territory."<ref>{{cite book
| last= Gilbert
| first= Martin
| author-link= Martin Gilbert
| title= Jerusalem in the Twentieth Century
| year= 1996
| publisher= [[Chatto & Windus]]
| location= London
| isbn= 0-7011-3070-9
| page= 167
| chapter= The Second World War, 1939–1945
}}</ref> On October 13, 1994, 50,000 gathered to pray for the safe return of kidnapped soldier [[Nachshon Wachsman]].<ref>{{cite book
| last= Gilbert
| first= Martin
| author-link= Martin Gilbert
| title= Jerusalem in the Twentieth Century
| year= 1996
| publisher= [[Chatto & Windus]]
| location= London
| isbn= 0-7011-3070-9
| page= 353
| chapter= Towards the Twenty-First Century
}}</ref> August 10, 2005 saw a massive prayer rally at the Wall. Estimates of people protesting [[Israel's unilateral disengagement plan]] ranged from 50,000 to 250,000 people.{{Citation needed|date=April 2011}}<ref>{{cite news
|url=https://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3125587,00.html
| title= 70,000 protest pullout at Western Wall
| last= Marciano
| first= Ilan
| access-date =December 26, 2007
| date= August 10, 2005
| work= [[Ynet]]
}}</ref> Every year on [[Tisha B'Av]] large crowds congregate at the Wall to commemorate the destruction of the Temple. In 2007 over 100,000 gathered.<ref>{{cite web
|url=http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/123174
| title= 100,000 Jews At Western Wall for Tisha B'Av 5767
| last= Ratzlav-Katz
| first= Nissan
| access-date =December 26, 2007
| date= July 23, 2007
| publisher= [[Arutz Sheva]]
}}</ref> During the month of [[Tishrei]] 2009, a record 1.5 million people visited the site.<ref>Judith Weil. "Kosel Visitors record", ''Jewish Tribune'', October 22, 2010.</ref>